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Ash Announce New Album

Ash have announced their forthcoming album Islands, which is the first new music from the band since 2015’s Kablemmo!. The new album marks Ash’s return to Infectious Music, the home to their previous number one albums 1977 and Free All Angels.

From the new album, Ash have released lead single Buzzkill, which was premiered on BBC 6Music. Twenty-five years on from their emergence as teenagers on Belfast’s DIY scene, Buzzkill is another irrepressible track that holds its own in what is a seemingly already over-stocked catalogue of hits.

Written by the band’s singer/guitarist Tim Wheeler, Buzzkill is a dizzying slice of upbeat pop nous, creating another wave of typical Ash ebullience that is sure to strike a chord with fans both young and old. The Undertones’ Damien O’Neill and Mickey Bradley provide guest backing vocals on the song.

Talking about Buzzkill, Wheeler explains its origins: “The day I wrote ‘Buzzkill’, it took me a while to stop laughing cos it’s so fun, dumb and full of unnecessary swearing. We used to know a band called Buzzkill in Belfast in the 90s and I think their name has been in my mind for all that time wanting to get into a song. Having seen The Undertones playing a couple of times recently I was guiltily thinking how much the backing vocals I’d written for ‘Buzzkill’ were mimicking their style. So I thought it would only be right to ask Damien (O’Neill) and Mickey (Bradley) to sing on it and we were honoured when that they said yes, despite all the filthy cussing. It’s a fun song and will hopefully ignite a few mosh-pits for us this year.”

Produced by Tim Wheeler, with additional production from Mark Hamilton, Rick McMurray and Claudius Mittendorfer, Islands is Ash’s seventh studio album since their inception in 1992. Their 1996 album 1977 was named by NME as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Islands tracklist:
True Story
Annabel
Buzzkill
Confessions In The Pool
All That I Have Left
Don’t Need Your Love
Somersault
Did Your Love Burn Out?
Silver Suit
It’s A Trap
Is It True?
Incoming Waves

Islands AlbumAsh
Out Friday 18 May through Liberator Music/Infectious Music/BMG
Pre-order available here